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Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor) Alternate name(s): "Grey Crow-shrike", "Grey Magpie", "Bell Magpie*", "Grey Bell-magpie", "Rain-bird*", "Squeaker*" Click here for more names (Includes "Clinking Currawong", "Black-winged Currawong" and "Brown Currawong") Aboriginal name(s): "cur-ow-ung*" [awaba], "kirriwong*" [birbai], "wati-eri" [ramindjeri], "kiling-kildi" (lower Murray), "koolardi"; Race "plumbea": "djilok", "bela", "bali", "bil", "djabin" (WA) Size: 44-57 cm; wing span: 72-85 cm Body mass: 300-500 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.32-0.44

Australia: Family Group 22 Family Group 22 Table White-winged Triller Varied Triller Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Barred Cuckoo-shrike Ground Cuckoo-shrike Sahul Cicadabird (Australasian) Yellow Oriole Olive-backed Oriole Australasian Figbird White-breasted Woodswallow Masked Woodswallow White-browed Woodswallow Black-faced Woodswallow Dusky Woodswallow Little Woodswallow Black Butcherbird Grey Butcherbird Silver-backed Butcherbird Black-backed Butcherbird Pied Butcherbird Australian Magpie Black Currawong Grey Currawong Pied Currawong Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Grey Currawongs are large predatorial birds. Their plumage is grey to dark-grey almost throughout, except for minor deviations. These and the base colour depend on race. All races have a white rump and undertail coverts and a white terminal band on the tail. Race "versicolor" is lightest-grey and has some white edge lining on the flight feathers. Race "arguta" is the darkest grey, with wing spots, while race "melanoptera" is dark-grey without wing spots. Race "intermedia" sits in between "arguta" and "melanoptera". As the name already suggests, race "plumbea" is leaden-grey. The eyes of all races have striking yellow irises. The long, strong, hooked bill is near-black. The legs and feet are dark-grey. Juveniles are a bit duller and browner than adults and they have the light-coloured (creamy) characteristic gape for several months and their irises start off dark and become successively brighter.

Taxonomy, classification See Grey Currawong at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Grey Currawong is available HERE . There are in total six races of Grey Currawongs, all of which are endemic to Australia. Formerly, several of them were treated as separate species. Their total range is restricted to the southern half of the continent and Tasmania. The range of nominate race "versicolor" extends from the Hunter River, NSW, along the South-East coast of Australia and the adjacent hills of the Great Dividing Range to the VIC/SA border in the West. West of the VIC/SA border (and in the lower Murray catchment) race "melanoptera" is present. Its range extends as far westward as Port Augusta, SA, and is limited northward, towards the red centre, along an East-West line roughly 100-200 km South of Broken Hill, NSW. Kangaroo Island has its own race of Grey Currawongs, race "halmaturina". Along the SA coast to the West of Port Augusta, including Eyre Peninsula, and up to a few hundred km inland, race "intermedia" exists. Race "plumbea" inhabits about the southern third of WA (with the exception of the Nullarbor), plus the north-western corner of SA and the border region with the south-western NT. Race "arguta" is found only in the eastern half of Tasmania. The different races of Grey Currawongs have various preferences for their habitats, ranging from open forest and woodland via mallee, heath, to farmland and the outskirts of urban areas.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "versicolor" R. Plumtree reports spotting a Grey Currawong, race "versicolor", on the Tongio Gap Road, South of Omeo, East Gippsland, VIC, in April 2014, and another on the Morass Creek Road, Ensay North, in September 2015. Another was found at Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, in July 2018, and another at the same location in September 2019. Race "plumbea" J. Greaves reports spotting a Grey Currawong, race "plumbea", at Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, in December 2014. Race "arguta" B. Hensen reports spotting a Grey Currawong, race "arguta" (the "Clinking Currawong"), close to Peter Murrell Reserve near Kinston, TAS, in March 2016. M. Eaton found a Grey Currawong, race "arguta" at Peter Murrell Reserve near Kinston, TAS, in April 2021 and again in September 2021. Others were found at Bicheno, TAS, in September 2024. Race "halmaturina" J. Greaves reports spotting a Grey Currawong, race "halmaturina", at American River, Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016.

Photos

Race "versicolor"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]

Frontal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]

Dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Morass Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2015]

Race "plumbea"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Partly obscured lateral view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, December 2014]

Lateral portrait of a Grey Currawong hiding in darkness (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, December 2014]

Race "arguta"

This race is also called the "Clinking Currawong".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, April 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Near-lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong with its tail cocked (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, April 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Dorsal view of a Grey Currawong looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Dorsal view of a Grey Currawong looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Grey Currawong in low flight, displaying the characteristic pattern with grey-streaked and grey-tipped flight feathers
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Direct comparison of a Grey Currawong, front, with a Forest Raven, back (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Race "halmaturina"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[American River, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/mob

Food, Diet

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong swallowing what looks like a dry pellet (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

grcurry_me_20240924_3.m4a	arguta (Bicheno, TAS)	Contact call?	© ME
grcurry_me_20240924_2.m4a	arguta (Bicheno, TAS)	Contact calls? (Q&A)	© ME
grcurry_me_20240924.m4a	arguta (Bicheno, TAS)	Contact calls? (Q&A; going to roost)	© ME
grcurry_me_20240924_4.m4a	arguta (Bicheno, TAS)	Extended contact call?	© ME
grcurry_me_20240924_5.m4a	arguta (Bicheno, TAS)	Extended Contact call?	© ME

More Grey Currawong sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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